2/21 Dwight, Need ideas on a good schedule

Pyrotemis

Pyrotemis

Member Since 2021
Hello! Dwight was diagnosed last Tuesday, and after a very scary hypo experience (long story) seems to be okay. He is currently on 1u Lantus every 12 hours.

My problem is that I work retail, so I'm a shift worker. My shifts range from 6am-2pm, to 3pm-11pm, and often anywhere in between. I have NO idea how I'm going to keep Dwight on a regular schedule with this. I don't have any spare money to pay someone to come over (bills are super tight as it is), everyone else in my house works and are not open to the idea of sticking my cat with a needle, and while I've gotten this week mostly squared away with my bosses, they said they can't really adjust my schedule to be within the same 12 hours.

I need help coming up with solutions. As it is, I have to skip tomorrow's first dose because I work at 6am and have to leave at 5, when I usually shoot at 9. I don't know how this is all going to work.
 
I thought your name looked familiar. I remember your hypo incident. Marje had sent you a PM so she could help get you set up with a spreadsheet. Did you get it and do you have one?
 
Hello and welcome to the LB&L forum! I read your last condo - OMG! You've had a helluva start on this journey.

I'm not sure how this would work, but I understand that sometimes you can do an 18 hour shot cycle....perhaps some of the others with more experience with that would be able to chime in.

Hoping to see your SS and signature soon. It will be most helpful to those that are going to assist you with scheduling to be able to see what's going on and when with Dwight.
 
I don't know, those don't sound familiar. I just learned how to test his BG this afternoon. I'm still extremely new to this.
 
Pyrotemis said:
I don't know, those don't sound familiar. I just learned how to test his BG this afternoon. I'm still extremely new to this.
Click to expand...

ok, let's just take it one step at a time:

Here's a link all about setting up and using the SS (spreadsheet).

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-use-the-spreadsheet.241653/

If you need help with that, just ask, there are people here that can set it up for you. @Bandit's Mom @Marje and Gracie and others.

Here's info on how to set up your Signature:

Originally posted by AmandaE: To create your own signature, click on your profile name at the upper right hand corner of the page. Select ‘Signature’ on the left side of the profile menu and write a signature containing the following information:
Your first name (if you want)
Kitty's name, age, & sex
Date of diagnosis
Name of the insulin being used
The name of the blood glucose meter you are using
Has kitty experienced any complications from diabetes? Ex. DKA, Neuropathy
Is kitty currently taking any other medications or supplements?
Does kitty have any health issues (current or in the past)?
Food: What are you currently feeding kitty?
Any information about your cat which is important, but hasn't been covered above
Your country / timezone - this helps for timezone specific advice
If you’re home testing, a link to your kitty’s spreadsheet
Select Save Changes.

There's a lot of reading to get your head around a lot of information - see the yellow tab (stickies) at the top of this forum. Take it one day at a time...read what you can, when you can...it takes time to absorb all this information.

Post a new condo (thread) every day so that we can get to know you and Dwight and lots of folks here will chime in with support, advice and ideas. There are many many experienced people on this forum. Just post your next condo like this: 2/22 Dwight AMPS ### - so that we can tell one from the next. Lots of posters on this forum so it's a busy place...

Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it soon :)
 
How long does it take you to get to/from work? In other words for a 6-2pm shift, what hours are you gone out of the house? Ditto for the 3-11pm shift.
 
It takes me about 35-40 minutes to get to work, so I usually leave an hour before I'm supposed to start. My shift is different day by day, but consistent week to week. (So on Mondays, i work 6am-2pm, and Saturdays i work 3pm-11pm.)
 
No, I work full time.

Monday 6-2
Wednesday 6-2
Thursday a mid shift, either 11-7 or 12-8
Friday, 2-10
Saturday, 3-11

I didn't realize I should post my whole schedule.

I'm typically gone for 10 hours. I just wish it was the same 10 every day!
 
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We are trying to figure out some type of schedule for you. All I can think of is sometimes you will need 18 hour shots. This helps. I’m not being nosy. Yes, if hours were the same it would help. :bighug: We have to deal with the reality though.
 
18 hour shots? I didn't realize that was a thing! It sounds kind if risky. We've been through a lot already, haha.
 
Sue and Luci said:
ok, let's just take it one step at a time:

Here's a link all about setting up and using the SS (spreadsheet).

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-use-the-spreadsheet.241653/

If you need help with that, just ask, there are people here that can set it up for you. @Bandit's Mom @Marje and Gracie and others.

Here's info on how to set up your Signature:

Originally posted by AmandaE: To create your own signature, click on your profile name at the upper right hand corner of the page. Select ‘Signature’ on the left side of the profile menu and write a signature containing the following information:
Your first name (if you want)
Kitty's name, age, & sex
Date of diagnosis
Name of the insulin being used
The name of the blood glucose meter you are using
Has kitty experienced any complications from diabetes? Ex. DKA, Neuropathy
Is kitty currently taking any other medications or supplements?
Does kitty have any health issues (current or in the past)?
Food: What are you currently feeding kitty?
Any information about your cat which is important, but hasn't been covered above
Your country / timezone - this helps for timezone specific advice
If you’re home testing, a link to your kitty’s spreadsheet
Select Save Changes.

There's a lot of reading to get your head around a lot of information - see the yellow tab (stickies) at the top of this forum. Take it one day at a time...read what you can, when you can...it takes time to absorb all this information.

Post a new condo (thread) every day so that we can get to know you and Dwight and lots of folks here will chime in with support, advice and ideas. There are many many experienced people on this forum. Just post your next condo like this: 2/22 Dwight AMPS ### - so that we can tell one from the next. Lots of posters on this forum so it's a busy place...

Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it soon :)
Click to expand...
We don’t put location in the signature block anymore. This is the updated info that should go into the signature block.

tiffmaxee said:
I thought your name looked familiar. I remember your hypo incident. Marje had sent you a PM so she could help get you set up with a spreadsheet. Did you get it and do you have one?
Click to expand...
Yes, I did send a PM.

Dwight’s mom: please check your inbox as I sent you a PM last week about doing a SS for Dwight. Thank you.
 
Pyrotemis said:
18 hour shots? I didn't realize that was a thing! It sounds kind if risky. We've been through a lot already, haha.
Click to expand...

It’s not ideal. I did it once when my mom was in the hospital. You shoot for example in the morning at 5. Then since not home can’t shoot at 5 at night the next shot is at 11 or as soon as you get home. Otherwise you would skip the night shot and your cat doesn’t get insulin for 24 hours. If nobody can help you out when you can’t get home it’s one option. Maybe there’s a teen in your neighborhood you might be able to hire for a nominal amount?
 
OK, I have some thoughts on schedule, and as Elise said, they involve 18 hours cycles. Not ideal, but workable. Note that there is some wiggle room, you can move shots 15 minutes a cycle, or 1/2 hour once per day.

The plan - I'm assuming you leave 1 hour before starting work and get back 1/2 hour or so after.

Monday to Wednesday - AM shot at 5:00 as you head out the door, PM shot at 5:00 PM. If you are up a while before 5 and it's more convenient, you could back this up to 4-4:30 AM.
Thursday AM - shot at 5 or 5:30, then a long 18 hour-ish gap to shot time at 11PM. Or option B for this day, do the 18 hour gap first so AM shot at 11AM then PM at 11PM.
Friday and Saturday - AM shot at 11, PM shot at 11 or perhaps 11:30 on Saturday if home later.
Sunday AM 11:30 shot, no PM shot, and a 18 hour gap until the Monday one at 5:00 AM, or option B, no AM shot and just the one shot at 4-5PM.

Note the 18 hour cycle does not have to be exact like the 12 hour cycles do.
 
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